How and when to bestow charity so as to relieve real want and at the same time preserve the self-respect of the receiver; how, further, to avoid being imposed upon by undeserving persons and still guard against doing anyone injustice, and above all how to do what we do in the right spirit, without sounding a trumpet in honor of the deed, and feeling that we are in some measure more respectable because of its performance,—these are questions of long-standing perplexity. We hope merely to add our mite in contribution to their solution. And what we have to say shall be in harmony with three Scripture exhortations, as follows:—
1. "Every man shall bear his own burden." Gal. 6:5.
2. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Gal. 6:2.
3. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee." Ps. 55:22.
These statements, we believe, justify the following propositions:—
1. As everyone must finally bear his own burden of sin, so he should now, as far as he is able, bear his own burden of responsibility.
2. As every man is liable to fall through temptation, and to become needy through misfortune, so he should be ready to help those who may have been overcome by temptation, or who may be needy.
3. As there are burdens too great to be borne alone, or even with the aid of others, so we should learn to cast our burden on the Lord.
And we believe that in the light of these propositions we shall not be far from the truth in making the following observations:—
A person who, to carry the burdens he has voluntarily taken upon himself in bringing into existence a family, asks for help before he has exhausted his power to bear those burdens himself, thereby injures his self-respect, which lies at the foundation of true manhood.
A man having means who sees a fellow-being exhaust his resources, and waits to be asked for aid before he proffers it, or proffers it in a surly spirit, intimating that the object of his charity lacks in management, has forgotten that he inherited his own prosperity possibly from his father and his own good management, certainly from his God.
The best way to bestow charity is to furnish work, as that preserves the manhood of the receiver.
There is no justice in the notion that property should be divided, giving to every man an equal share. They who advocate it doubtless expect to be benefited by the transaction. It is a self-evident truth that the man who toils hard for years, practicing self-denial and economy, is entitled to reap and enjoy the fruit of his labors, though, if he is a good man, he will take delight in sharing his store with those in want. Community of goods among the early Christians?—Yes, the circumstances demanded it. Many were away from their homes, and all men were against them. Coming to similar times, are we? Very well; when we do, Christians should and will do likewise. But the man who makes that prospect an excuse for sitting down in idleness to patiently wait for that blessed time, does not deserve to share in the community of goods; but we presume he will be on hand, nevertheless.
Work is the law of the universe. One of the best ways to worship God is to do something useful and honorable. Man has no more sacred duty than to toil with brain or brawn for the care of the dear ones God has given him. Up, then, fellow mortal, and find something to do, though you get but a pittance for pay. He that travels along Do-Nothing Way may expect to arrive at Have-Nothing Borough.—College View Enterprise.